Past events

2010-11

Trip to Olympic Park, London

Wednesday 11 May 2011, 7.30am to late evening

- for students in MACE

This was the last chance for us to go on a tour of the Olympic Park in London. We left Manchester at 7.30am and at our destination by 13:45 for a tour of the Olympic Park construction site. Then we heared from women involved in the project, with a chance to meet them afterwards. We will left London at 16:00 and arrive back in Manchester late evening.

Building your Confidence

Wednesday 11 May 2011, 2.00-4.00pm, room 3.204, University Place.

Question - Why is confidence so important?

Answer - It can aid your success in group work, presentations, exams, languages and presence.

This workshop:

explored what holds you back from feeling confident

taught us how to recognise anxieties in different situations

gave us practical tools and techniques for managing anxiety and building confidence

Insight into Research (Physics and Astronomy)

Wednesday 4 May 2011, 1.30-4.00pm, room 6.207, University Place

We heard talks from three physicists about their research, careers and experiences. There was a question and answer session with the opportunity to network over lunch.

Speakers were:

Professor Gillian Gehring, OBE (Sheffield)

Professor Athene Donald (Cambridge)

Professor Helen Gleeson, OBE (Manchester).

Athene has recently won a lifetime achievement award, read about it here in the Guardian.

Visit to Shell Technology Centre, Thornton

Wednesday 4 May 2011, 12.45pm-5.30pm

After travelling to Chester by coach, we heard a talk from a female scientist about her present role and how this fits relates to the research and technology operations at Thornton.

Then chose which tour of the centre to go on, met members of Shell Women's Network North West, found out about recruitment and work experience opportunities, before returning to the campus.

Insight into Research (Science)

Wednesday 6 April 2011, 1.00-3.00pm, room 1.218, University Place

We heard talks from a number of staff talk about their research, careers and experiences.

Dr Huda El mubarek, Royal Academic of Engineering and EPSRC Research Fellow, School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering

International Women's Day 100th Anniversary Celebration

in aid of Oxfam - "Celebrate Women. Change Lives"

Wednesday 9 March 2011, 2.00-3.30pm, room 5.206, University Place

Amidst The University of Manchester’s week-long festivities in celebrating the 100th International Women’s Day last week, WiSET (Women in Science and Engineering) hosted an inspirational networking event, reaching students and staff throughout the Faculty.

The mixer kicked off with an ice-breaking session of human bingo, followed by a well-earned tea and cake break. A presentation by Romanian student Simona followed, where she told how the day was celebrated in her native country. “They really celebrate it.” She said. “Men buy flowers and give them to women on the street and everyone says ‘Happy Women’s Day!’” “I heard a story,” she continued, “about a woman that got stopped by the police in her car. She panicked, wondering what she had done wrong, or whether she had been speeding and not noticed. But the policeman just wanted to give her flowers and tell her to have a nice day.”

Bringing a little slice of Romanian culture to The University of Manchester, Simona unveiled a bouquet of flowers, which she handed out individually to those in attendance.

Up next was the inspirational Professor Sabine Flitsch, who gave an overview of her interesting academic career, spanning four countries and including a scholarship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a lectureship at Oxford. She talked about how she has maintained her work-life balance, and achieved academic success whilst raising her children.

Zartasha Mustansar, who is currently working towards a PhD in the School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, spoke about how she became interested in science while she was growing up in Pakistan: “Everyone in my country wondered why in the world I wanted to be a scientist, when no one else wanted to.” Zartasha went on to win the Dorothy Hodgkin Scholarship to study at Manchester, where she became the WISET student co-ordinator for her School.

Closing talks included students representing Robogals, which is an international student-led organisation that encourages more schoolgirls into science engineering and technology by leading fun activities in primary and secondary schools; and a short presentation from students representing Engineers without Borders, who offer students and graduates placements to work with international development organisations.

Alison McMurray, who organised the celebration on behalf of WiSET and the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences in liaison with Equality and Diversity, said: "The event was both enjoyable and thought provoking. It was fascinating to hear about different people’s experiences and ways in which students could get involved. Thank you to everyone who supported the event, by attending or speaking, and to those who made a donation to Oxfam. The International Women’s Day 100th Anniversary was certainly celebrated in style!”

Followed by a 'Question and Answer' session with a panel of employers that employ science, engineering and technology graduates, including BP, Shell, Deloitte, Barclays technology division and the University.

Finally, networking opportunities with free refreshments and the chance to for you to have an application form checked by a Careers Consultant.

Project Management Workshop -

Why do engineers and scientists need project management

Wednesday 23 February 2011, 12.30-5.30pm, room IT407, Information Technology Building
This workshop was led by Dr Trish Melton, a chemical engineer who is now the Managing Director of an engineering consultancy, MIME Solutions Limited.

It was a practical, energetic workshop to introduce a PM Toolkit for IMMEDIATE use by scientists & engineers so that they can ...

-recognise WHEN it can be used

-understand the BENEFITS of applying the techniques and tools as early as possible
-recognise what a GOOD PROJECT MANAGER should be doing to increase the 'certainty of outcome'

Feedback from last year's workshop included:

"Lecture material incredibly stimulating and workshop challenging" and "The interactive exercise helped with understanding tools better and why needed".
The workshop included a competition to win copies of Trish's book 'Project Management Toolkit'. Trish donated a copy of this and three of her other project management books to the University Library.

CV Surgery

Wednesday 8 December 2010, 1.30-3.30pm, room 3.204, University Place

Bring along your CV and have an individual 1-2-1 session with a Careers Consultant from the University's Careers Service to get advice on how to improve your CV.